Tigers clamp down

STOCKTON - The Tokay boys basketball game turned a close game into a rout in a matter of minutes.

Dave Campbell

STOCKTON - The Tokay boys basketball game turned a close game into a rout in a matter of minutes.

The Tigers hit 10 3-pointers and held Franklin scoreless for nearly the entire third quarter Thursday to defeat the Yellowjackets 58-32 in the first round of the Joe Nava Delta King Classic at Stagg High.

The Tigers (1-0) started a 20-0 run with 3 minutes, 17 seconds left in the first half on a 3-pointer by Nico Brusa that stretched until Isaiah Gaines sunk a field goal for the Yellowjackets (1-1) with 35 seconds left in the third quarter.

"At halftime we stressed coming out and setting the tone defensively," Tokay coach Bobby Hernandez said. "I told them that the first 4 minutes of the third period would be key and that we could put the game out of reach."

Yonic Flores was the spark for the Tigers during the start of the third quarter, getting a field goal, a steal, an assist and two rebounds. Flores finished with seven points.

"Flores sets the tone for us," Hernandez said. "Both in practice and in the games."

Kyle Rivers had two 3s for Tokay and led the Tigers with 12 points. Brusa had three from behind the arc and finished with 11 points.

"I thought we came out with a lot of energy," Rivers said. "We picked up pretty good defense, especially in the second half.

"We knew that we had to come out at halftime and work hard because defense is where it all starts."

Franklin trailed by just 23-22 when Brusa hit the 3-pointer to start the big Tokay run.

"We just did not have a lot of baskets," Yellowjackets coach Brett Toliver said. "We were stone cold in the second half. It was a tough offensive night for us, and defensively I think we let ourselves down when we got tired. It's just one of those conditioning drills, and Tokay did a heck of a job getting the ball up court and scoring."

Franklin's Colizel Lewis was the only Franklin player in double figures and led all scorers with 15 points.